High galactic latitude cataclysmic variables

Journal Article · Fri Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1990 · Astrophysical Journal; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/168868· OSTI ID:6692007

Howell, S B; Szkody, P ^[1]

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1. Planetary Science Institute, Tucson, AZ (USA) Washington Univ., Seattle (USA)

A sample of stars which are either known or are good candidates for being halo cataclysmic variables has been isolated. This sample consists of 84 stars of which 57 are dwarf novae (two of these are probable DQ Her systems), 12 are novalike stars, seven are AM Her objects, and eight are classical novae. Periodicities are known for 27 of the systems. If these stars are indeed halo members, then their distances range from 350 pc to 8 kpc and they represent objects that should be significantly older than their disk counterparts. If they do not represent true halo members, then they are intrinsically very faint systems (Mv greater than +10). Comparing the gross properties of this sample to those for the disk cataclysmic variables, it is found that below the period gap, the mean outburst amplitude for the halo dwarf novae is 3 mag greater than for the disk dwarf novae. For systems with periods less than 4 h, the halo cataclysmic variables have a higher percentage of systems below the period gap than the disk cataclysmic variables. The implications of these findings are discussed, as well as possible sample biases and selection effects. 48 refs.

• OSTI ID: 6692007
• Journal Information: Astrophysical Journal; (USA), Journal Name: Astrophysical Journal; (USA) Vol. 356; ISSN ASJOA; ISSN 0004-637X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640102* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Stars & Quasi-Stellar
Radio & X-Ray Sources
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ACCRETION DISKS
COORDINATES
DISTANCE
DWARF STARS
ERUPTIVE VARIABLE STARS
MAIN SEQUENCE STARS
MASS TRANSFER
NOVAE
ORBITS
STARS
VARIABLE STARS